Festival promises real ale and live music

A REAL ale and music festival will take place at Oakwood Technology College in Rotherham during the February half-term holiday.

More than 250 different varieties of beer, cider and wine will be on offer at the annual festival, which runs from Thursday, February 18 to Saturday, February 20.

Music will also be on offer over four stages, with a total of 28 different acts appearing throughout the festival.

Almost 12,000 visitors came to the festival last year.

A spokesman for the Oakwood Beer Festival said: “The beer festival was started several years ago by the then headteacher, Jan Charters, and her husband Jim Charters.

“It has grown into the largest in the north of England. People come from all over the country and attend all three days as we have over 200 beers, some exclusively brewed for the festival.

“We have music in all three hall areas, ranging from blues to swing and rock.

“Oakwood Beer Festival is unique because it is a registered charity and all the profits go to our school.”

Tickets for the festival are available from Oakwood Technology College, various pubs throughout Rotherham and Sheffield, Rotherham Central Library, the Asda, Morrisons and Tesco branches in Rotherham, tourist information offices and from the Rotherham branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra).

Advance tickets cost 7.50 for Thursday and Saturday and 8.50 for the Friday. On the door, tickets will cost 2.50 extra. Each ticket includes entry into the festival and a souvenir festival glass.

The spokesman added: “It is strongly advised to purchase advance tickets as the 2009 festival closed entry to those without tickets on Friday.

“The organisers are sure that Friday will be a sell out, so it is possible that no tickets will be available on the Friday night this year.”